Mini Countryman review

With the launch of the Countryman, Mini threw away any notion that a car called Mini was, by definition, small. The Countryman is as long as a VW Golf and considerably taller, yet it's still clearly recognisable as a member of the Mini family.

It mixes these familiar design cues with some from 4x4s, including tough-looking plastic wheelarches and bright roof rails. And it's not all show; the Countryman is available with the option of four-wheel drive.

Strong resale values and a funky interior with an elevated driving position only add to its desirability.

Space 7/10

The first truly roomy modern Mini

To prove how much the Countryman has grown from the 10ft-long original Mini, someone made a flatpack cardboard replica of the original and erected it entirely inside a new Countryman.

So the Countryman is usefully roomy, able to squeeze three people across its back seat and accommodate enough luggage for a travel-light holiday.

The boot still isn't large – you get more space with a FordFocus or VW Golf - but it's possible to slide the rear seats forward and extend the boot when smaller people are sitting in the back of the car.

Alternatively, if you're not carrying rear passengers, the rear seats can be folded down, although this does leave a rather lumpy load floor.

As an option, Mini offers the rear seats as two separate chairs, but the gap between them allows passersbys to see what you've got in the boot.

Every Countryman has a metal rail that runs between the front seats and allows you to fit cupholders, sunglasses holders and other storage containers to choice. This rail extends into the rear of the car if you specify the separate rear seats.

Comfort 7/10

Supportive seats and decent ride comfort

Smaller Minis tend to have firm suspension to make them feel as sporty as possible, but the Countryman is more forgiving.

It can still jolt you on a bumpy bend when the suspension is having to cope with the forces of going round a corner. The car leans surprisingly little in corners, too.

The engines are mainly quiet, apart from the grumbly Cooper SD diesel model, and there's not too much road noise from the fat tyres.

As for the seats, they're all comfortable and supportive, and the person behind the wheel can easily find a good driving position.

Book a free Mini Countryman home test drive

Dashboard layout 6/10

Pure Mini, which means it's a bit of a mess

A large speedometer in the centre of the dashboard is a key Mini design feature, and the Countryman's is vast. So vast, indeed, that the eyes can find it hard to locate the position of the red speedo needle as it moves round the peripheral scale – it's too much to take in at one glance.

Just as well, then, that there's also a digital speed readout in the bottom of the rev-counter, mounted in a pod straight ahead of the driver.

Four hefty air vents continue the circular theme in what is a sturdy, well-finished and boldly-designed dashboard.

Unfortunately, the layout of the various controls feels pretty haphazard, so it can be difficult to find the one you want without looking away from the road for longer than you ideally would.

Easy to drive 8/10

Small enough to be handy; big enough for a commanding view out

There's a flavour of 4x4 about the Mini Countryman in its high driving position, yet it's still compact enough to be easy to park. The bluff extremities help here, as does steering that's light unless it's set to Sport mode.

The gearchange is smooth and easy, but it's too easy to select reverse instead of first gear by mistake, because the spring guarding against reverse is weak. An automatic gearbox is available as an option.

Fun to drive 6/10

A bit disappointing by Mini standards

If the score here seems low, it's because you expect a car called Mini to be the ultimate in nippiness and fleet-footed agility. In reality, this big version feels much less playful, although it grips the road well.

Initially it feels keener than it is, because the steering responds unnaturally quickly, but the impression soon fades. And switching the steering to Sport simply makes it harder to turn the steering wheel, as though the grease in the mechanism has solidified. There's nothing 'sporty' about it at all – it's just unpleasant.

We’d also avoid the cheapest petrol and diesel versions of the Mini Countryman (called the One and One D respectively) because these struggles to cope with the car’s bulk. The more powerful Cooper petrol and Cooper D diesel models are more like it, while the Cooper S models liven things up considerably.

Reliability 7/10

The Countryman performed reasonably well in the 2013 JD Power customer satisfaction survey, finishing 49th out of 116 cars, although several rivals were higher up the standings, including the second-placed SkodaYeti.

Like the Skoda Yeti, the Countryman comes with a warranty that lasts for three years or 60,000 miles - whichever comes first.

Fuel economy 7/10

As you'd expect, the diesels rule

You would expect the lower-powered diesel versions of the Countryman to be frugal, and the official average of 64.2mpg bear this out. But even the fastest diesel model, the Cooper SD, manages 61.4mpg - although not when you’re making the most of its considerable performance.

There's a greater chance with the diesels than with the petrols of getting somewhere near the official figures during gentle driving. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the four-wheel-drive, Cooper S automatic really isn't very economical at all, officially or otherwise.

Affordability 8/10

No dearer than a Skoda Yeti

The range-topping John Cooper S Works model is priced ridiculously close to £30k, but lesser versions of the Countryman are no more expensive than other hatchbacks with tough, 4x4 looks.

Such is the strength of the Mini brand, and the demand for the Countryman models, that the cars hold their value well when it comes to selling. There are also some good-value service packages to be had, so all told the Countryman is not an expensive car to own.

Safety 7/10

Everything you'd expect, but no more than that

Like most modern cars, the Countryman earned the maximum five-star rating when it was crash tested by independent safety body Euro NCAP.

The list of standard safety features include multiple airbags, plus systems to maintain traction and help sort out a skid. However, systems that can warn you if you’re wandering out of your lane or slow you automatically when if it looks like you’re going to crash into the car in front aren't available.

Standard spec 7/10

A huge array of specs to choose from

To each Mini Countryman you can add a Pepper Pack, which includes front fog lights, a leather steering wheel and ambient interior lighting, or a Chili Pack, complete with grander wheels, part-leather trim, the Sport button, climate control and rain-sensing wipers. Even without those spices, though, the Countryman is reasonably well equipped.

The optional Media pack lets you control the stereo, sat-nav and phone with voice commands, plus it adds internet connectivity via your phone and improves the sound system.

Our favourite version

Cooper D, list price £19,955

Options you should add Media pack (£1630) and metallic paint (£430)

The verdict 7/10

Purists might object to the idea of the outsize Countryman, but there's no denying its appeal to people who like the idea of a Mini but also need family-size space. It loses some of a regular Mini's cheeky charm in the process, but you can't have it all ways.